Bill Holden waves to the River Queen while relaxing on River Street with Patty Maddox and his son Billy Sunday afternoon during the Memorial Day Festival. Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Crowds basked at the sun-drenched Rousakis Plaza on Sunday as the annual Memorial Day Festival concluded with line-dancing, plenty of good eats and a prideful show of patriotism along the banks of the Savannah River.

Military demonstrations and live music also highlighted the weekend-long fest, the proceeds of which go to the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation.

"We're having a good time - the atmosphere, the people are great," said Dotty Oliver, of Marietta, motioning toward Archie, her sunglasses-wearing Chihuahua. "People see him and they smile. He's good therapy."

Punctuating the riverside festivities Sunday was the early afternoon arrival of John Teeples, a Columbus ultra-marathoner who in three days ran 260 miles between the Chattahoochee and Savannah rivers.

The trek raised about $60,000 for an organization called House of Heroes, which repairs homes owned by veterans of military and public service.

Teeples, 46, bounded down the cobblestones of River Street about 2 p.m., raising his arms in triumph as he crossed a makeshift finish chute.

"Every time I got tired or wore out, I thought about the soldiers oversees, fighting for us," Teeples said. "They get tired and wore out, but they never give up."

Elsewhere, vendors hawked crafts and caricatures, while hot dogs, nachos and beer were in plentiful supply.

In step with the Memorial Day theme, officials at United Service Organizations and Red Cross booths handed out materials.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," said Rob Hill, a Vietnam War veteran who came down from Charleston, S.C., for the holiday weekend. "I like the music, and I like seeing all the veterans in their hats."